ACCIDENT AT WAIHI MINE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 212, 2 June 1921, Page 4

ACCIDENT AT WAIHI MINE

IRON SHAFT CAGE CRASHES 600 FEET MINERS’ WONDERFUL ESCAPE By Telegraph—Press Association. Waihi, July 1. Shortly before eight o’clock last night a big iron cage at No. 4 shaft in the Waihi mine broke away from its wire rope, and fell with terrific force some 600 feet from tho eighth to the twelfth level, where it struck the. penthouse, and was ’flattened out. Grave concern was felt for the safety of four miners working at the th ; rteenth level, and the shaft pump man, and as the means of ingress was blocked by the shattered cage, it 'was some time before a rescue parly opuld ge.t into touch with the workers, and relieve the anxiety of those overhead with an announcement that all were well below. One of the miners, Charles Ryan, who had gone, up to the twelfth level shortly before the accident, was returning to number thirteen level in a bucket when the cage rushed down on the penthouse. A quantity of steel being sent to the men was precipitated down the shaft, and Rya” received a gash on the back of one hand and other cuts and abrasions. but it is remarkable that he should have escaped with his life. The cause of the accident is not yet clear, put it is apparent that the wire rope snapped or came away from the shackle attaching it to the cage. The ropes on the cage were quite new, and only a few hours before the mishap these and the safety, grips which failed to act had been examined and tested, and appealed to be in good order.